Why Aga is running for Congress
He is happily married, his career is going steady. So why does Aga Muhlach want to make his life more ‘complicated’ by running for congressman in the fourth district of Camarines Sur?
That’s precisely the point, he told members of the press who came to his oath-taking as member of Transport Secretary Mar Roxas’ Liberal Party (LP) on Friday, Aug. 3 at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.
“I cannot deny na napakaraming suwerte na ang natanggap ko mula sa Diyos. At hindi naman gaganda ang buhay ko kung walang taong nagtiwala, nagmahal at humanga sa akin. At yan rin ang dahilan kung bakit ako papasok dito – dahil sa dami daming biyayang naibigay sa akin, tama lang na ibalik ko yan sa tao. Kung ano ang dapat sa kanila, ibibigay ko sa kanila,” he said in a press statement.
There’s also something about a congressman’s more flexible schedule that suits Aga’s politics-showbiz plan perfectly.
“Pag pumasok akong mayor, I have to be there (in the city) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Congress work is every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I will have days na maghanapbuhay bilang artista.”
Platforms
Like most actors running for public office, Aga knows his popularity gives him an edge. But the political newbie knows popularity is only step one of the game. His district badly needs ways to get over poverty before even thinking of progress. So number one in Aga’s agenda is tourism.
“Kailangan makilala ang buong Camarines Sur para puntahan ng mga negosyante,” he explains. “Sino ang makikinabang don? Ang mga tao. Ang hanapbuhay na hinahanap nila ay darating sa kanila. Hindi na nila kailangan umalis pa.”
Education is another platform for this father of two (twins Atasha and Andres, aged 11).
“Kung ang university mo, three hours away, kahit libre, paano ka mag-aaral? Dapat may mga eskwelahan.”
Add more advanced agricultural methods and farm-to-market roads and you have a good idea of how Aga hopes to turn his district around – slowly.
Talking about it is easy. Getting the job done is hard. Aga vows he will use the pork barrel he will get strictly for CamSur.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala, yung pork barrel, kinikita ko na yan,” he reassures everyone.
This is why he – and wife Charlene Gonzales – are not losing sleep – so far – over security risks that are part of local politics.
“It becomes dirty once you become corrupt,” the 43-year-old Aga says. “Then, it gets scary. Kung hindi ako magiging corrupt, wala akong dapat ikatakot.”
Twins’ happenings
Charlene, who cast aside all initial doubts to support her husband, happily reports that her children are adjusting to the bucolic life well.
“May sarili silang happening doon,” she relates. “Mas marunong pa nga sila ng Bicolano kesa Tagalog ngayon.”
The happenings consist of things they can’t do as sheltered children in Manila.
“Pumupunta sila sa plaza, sa munisipyo, sa sari-sari store. Lakad sila ng lakad doon. Umuuwi sila ng gabi na may libag sa leeg, parang ako noong bata pa,” adds Aga.
“Pumupunta sila sa plaza, sa munisipyo, sa sari-sari store. Lakad sila ng lakad doon. Umuuwi sila ng gabi na may libag sa leeg, parang ako noong bata pa,” adds Aga.
Aga’s base is in San Jose Camarines Sur, but he traces his roots in Goa, where his grandmother comes from.
Among the celebrities who went to Aga’s oath-taking were Cesar Montano, Bayani Agbayani and director Joyce Bernal.
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